Overshoe



c. w.low|NGs Sept. l, 1964 OVERSHOE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 13, 1963 lFIG-3 FIG-4 INVENTOR. CHARLES W. OWINGS BYMAHoNEY,M|LLERaR MBo BY g 9 7?/ ATTORNEYS C. W. OWINGS Sept. 1, 1964 OVERSHOE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1963 :""a l I I I lll/l I I I I lll IIIIIIII FIG-9 FIG-7 m ..5 ms Y Tma .M mmm R V0L%m m..L T WWA LN RO AH HA CM mm x8 G F United States Patent O 3,146,535 VERSHUE Charles W. Gwings, Eroadvvin Apts., 131'2 E. Broad St.,

Columbus, tlhio, assigner of nine-twentieths to )David Claynian and Leonard Sigall, Columbus, and one-tenth to Fred Neu/elicit, McArthur, @hic Filed .lune 13, 1953, Ser. No. 257,639 3 Claims. (Cl. Sai-7.3)

This invention relates in general to an overshoe of the type worn as a protective covering for low quarter-type shoes. It relates, more specifically, to a novel and improved overshoe having a hinged heel section formed in the peripheral wall which facilitates the insertion or withdrawal of a shoe.

Overshoes of the low quarter-type are generally fabricated from a fabric-reinforced elastic material which is stretched slightly when pulled on a shoe and retains the overshoe in its proper position by the resilient characteristics of the material. An overshoe of this type constructed in accordance with prior practice comprises a sole formed with a recess for receiving a shoe heel and a continuous peripheral wall formed with the sole and projecting a distance upwardly therefrom. Preferably, an overshoe for a specific size of shoe is molded to be slightly smaller in order that the wall will be stretched when positioned on the shoe. The forward portions of the periheral wall may be interconnected to form a toereceiving pocket leaving an openin g over the heel-receiving recess in the sole through which the shoe may be inserted or withdrawn. Utilization of an elastic material, for example, rubber or synthetic materials having similar characteristics, not only provides a water-impervious overshoe, but provides the necessary force for resiliently engaging the shoe, thus aiding in retaining the overshoe in its proper position. An overshoe of this type, particularly one designed for heavy duty Wear, is relatively stiff and resistant to stretching and may be difficult to apply or remove since the overshoe must be stretched sutliciently to enlarge the opening to permit insertion or removal of the shoe. Thus, overshoes of the prior construction are inconvenient to use as the wearer must reach down to grasp the heel portion of the wall and stretch the wall to sufficiently enlarge the opening for passage of a shoe. This problem may be partially eliminated by increasing the elasticity of the material utilized, particularly in the portions of the wall adjacent the heel, resulting in a decrease in the force required to stretch the wall sufficiently for insertion or removal of a shoe. The disadvantage of increasing the elasticity is that the susceptibility of the overshoe to accidental removal is increased. In addition, there will be a decrease in durability if the increase in elasticity is obtained through a reduction in thickness of the material utilized in fabrication. The necessity of reaching down to stretch the overshoe wall is not eliminated, however, by merely increasing the elasticity of the wall.

It is, therefore, the primary object of .this invention to provide an overshoe having a peripheral wall formed with `a relatively movable, hinged heel section for facilitating the insertion of a shoe.

It is another object of this invention to provide an overshoe having a peripheral wall formed with a relatively movable, hinged heel section attached to a sole member thereof for pivotal, swinging movement in a vertical plane from a normal open position to a relatively closed position restricting the opening for receiving the shoe and includes a reinforcing and locking lever formed with the heel section which cooperatively engages the shoe to maintain the heel section in a closed position in engagement with the shoe.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an lCe overshoe having a peripheral wall formed with a relatively movable heel section attached to a sole member thereof for pivotal, swinging movement from a normal open position lto a closed position having a relatively restricted opening by insertion of a shoe which engages a lever and locking member formed with the heel section.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FiGURE 1 is a side elevational View of an overshoe constructed with a hinged heel section showing the heel section in the closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FGURE l.

FGURE 3 is -a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG- URE 3 showing the heel section pivoted t-o the normally open position.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional View similar to FIG- URE 3 showing a modified form of a hinged heel section with the heel section in a closed position.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional View similar to FIG- URE 5 showing the heel section pivoted to the normally open position.

FGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View on an enlarged scale of the lever and supporting member hinge structure.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View similar :to FIGURE 6 showing a modified slot structure.

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line lil-16B of FIGURE 9.

Having reference to the drawings, an overshoe constructed with a hinged heel section in accordance with this invention is illustrated in FIGURES 1-4. The overshoe is of the well-known form comprising a sole 10 which includes a heel portion 11 for receiving the heel of a shoe and an upstanding peripheral wall, denoted generally by the numeral 12, which is formed with the sole. The forward portions of .the peripheral wall 12 are joined to form a pocket 13 for receiving the toe of a shoe. The portions of the Wall 12 adjacent the heel portion 11 of the sole 10 extend a distance upwardly from the sole terminating in an edge 1li which will preferably be slightly below the corresponding edge of the uppers of a shoe A (FIGURE l). In accordance with this invention, a portion of the wall extending around the curved section of the heel portion 11 of the sole is substantially separated from the longitudinally extending sides of the wall forming a hinged heel section 15. The hinged heel section 15 forms a smooth, continuous surface with longitudinal portions of the wall 12 when in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 1 and extends upwardly, terminating in an edge 16 which is preferably a continuation of the edge 1d. The opening thus defined by the edges 14 and 16 is shaped similar to that of the shoe A. Preferably, the wall 12 and the heel section 15 will be proportionally dimensioned in accordance with the desired shoe size to assure that the inner surface thereof will be in contacting engagement with the adjacent surface portions of a shoe.

The heel section 15 is integrally molded with the wall 12 and the sole lll and includes the usual back rib or spine 1'7 extending vertically from the sole and which is of substantially greater thickness than the wall for increased durability. The rib 17 is disposed centrally of the overshoe extending a distance laterally to each side of the longitudinal center line of the overshoe and is formed with the curvature of the sole.

Formed with the rib 17 are wall sections 13 which extend laterally from each side of the rib. The wall sections 18 with the rib 17 form a curved segment which is complementary to the Wall 12 and the heel portion 11 having a vertically extending edge 19 and a lower edge 20 extending between the rib and each edge 19. A notch is Vformed in the rear portion of the wall 12 to receive the heel section 15. The notch is defined by a pair of substantially vertically disposed edges 22 and a bottom edge 23 extending between the lower end of each edge 22 and the rib 17. The notch is arranged so that the heel section 15 will t therein with the corresponding edges of each in contacting engagement when the heel section is in closed position as shown in FIGURES 1-3, inclusive. Preferably, the edge 23 of the notch is disposed slightly above the sole 10 and accordingly locates the hinge or pivot point P at this relative elevation on the rib 17. If desired, the edge 23 may be inclined upwardly from the rib as illustrated and the corresponding edge Ztl of the heel section 15 also formed accordingly. The heel section 15 is molded with the wall 12 as indicated in FIGURE 4 to maintain the heel section in a rearwardly inclined, normally open position. By molding and vulcanizing the rib 17 as indicated, the corresponding edges 19, 25J, and 22, 23 of the heel section 15 and the notch will be separated forming the slots therebetween. Insertion of a shoe into the overshoe is thereby facilitated as the opening defined by the edges 14 and 16 of the wall 12 and heel section 15, respectively, will be enlarged at least to the extent of the slots formed by the edges 19 and 22 of the wall and heel section. There will be no need for reaching down t move the heel section 15 to an open position since by molding the rib 17 as indicated, the resiliency of the material will provide -a biasing force and the heel section will remain rearwardly inclined when the overshoe is not worn.

The heel section 15 is pivoted automatically from the normally open position of FIGURE 4 to the substantially closed position shown in FIGURE 3 by a lever means actuated by a shoe as it is inserted in the overshoe. The lever means comprises a rigid bracket having a rst leg 24 formed with, as by molding, the heel section 15 and a second leg 25 projecting inwardly of the wall 12. The irst leg 24 is an elongated metal bar formed with a curvature similar to the rib 17 in which it is embedded and is substantially equal in width to the rib. Also, the leg 24, starting at the pivot point P, extends the length of the rib 17 terminating a slight distance below the edge 16 to provide the necessary rigidity. The second leg 25, which is an elongated flat bar, projects inwardly of the wall 12 along the longitudinal center line of the sole and includes a main body portion which is disposed in juxtaposition to the upper surface of the heel portion 11 when the heel section is in the closed position. Forming a part of the leg 25 is an L-shaped connector having a first member 26 connected to and disposed perpendicular to the main body portion and a second member 27 extending between the rst member 26 and the first leg 24 at the pivot point P. The L-shaped connector is arranged to position the first member 26 thereof a distance inwardly of the wall 12 relative to the overshoe to assure engagement of the vertical portion of a shoe heel B therewith when the heel section 15 is in the closed position and a shoe is inserted therein. The member 26 may be curved transversely to correspond with the curvature of wall 12 at the heel and the shoe heel B.

With a shoe A inserted, the heel section 15 will be locked in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 3 by the shoe heel B. The shoe heel B, in engagement with the connector member 26, is relatively immovable longitudinally of the overshoe and will prevent pivoting of the heel vsection 15 to the normally open position. To provide an adequate lever arm for this purpose, the connector member 26 should be of a length equal to about one-half the height of the shoe heel B. Similarly, the pivot point P will be located at substantially one-half the height of the heel. The leg 24 of the lever bracket is arranged relative to the leg 25, particularly to the connector member 26, to be in contacting engagement with the counter of the shoe A and thus provide the necessary resilient clamping force to retain the overshoe in its proper position relative to the shoe.

Aiding in providing the clamping force is the main body portion of the second leg 25 of the lever which will underlie the shoe heel B. A persons weight bears against the leg 25 when the overshoe is in contact with the ground, thereby increasing the leverage for maintaining the heel section 15 in the closed position. Preferably, a recess 28 is formed in the heel portion 11 for receiving the leg 25. The recess 28 is of such a depth that the leg 25 will form a liush surface with the upper surface of the heel portion 11. The main body portion of the leg 25 is of particular importance when inserting a shoe into the overshoe. As the heel thereof is lowered, the heel section 15 being in the normally open position of FIGURE 4, the lower surface of the heel B will contact the upwardly projecting leg 25 at the extreme end thereof and cause the heel section to pivot inwardly toward the closed position. The force required to push a shoe into the overshoe is substantially less than that required if the pivoting moment were entirely obtained from the relatively short member 26 of the leg connector.

A shoe may be readily inserted in the present overshoe by merely stepping into it. The enlarged opening admits the shoe Without restriction and there is no need to reach down to stretch the wall since the heel' section 15 is biased toward the normally open position by the resiliency of the material from which the rib 17 is formed. As the shoe is pushed into the overshoe, the heel B will engage the lever bracket at the leg 25 to pivot the heel section 15 toward the closed position. Subsequently, the heel B will engage the connector member 26 to further pivot the heel section 15 toward the closed position. When the shoe A is resting on the sole 10, the heel section 15 will be locked in the closed position by the Vertical wall of the heel B being in engagement with the connector member 26.

Removal of the overshoe is also greatly facilitated by this improved construction. To remove the overshoe, it is merely necessary to apply a downward force to the heel portion 11 sufficient to raise the heel B of the shoe to an elevation Where it will clear the L -shaped connector member 26 of the leg 24. At this point, the resiliency of the rib 17 will bias the heel section 15 rearwardly to the normally open position and thus enlarge the opening for Withdrawal of the shoe.

For a specific overshoe construction, the peripheral wall 12 may not possess the desired stiffness to maintain the portions thereof adjacent the vertical edges 22 of the notch in contacting engagement with the counter of the shoe. This situation is particularly evident where the wall 12 is fabricated with a relatively thin crosssection and may not be suiiiciently rigid to maintain a firm contact with the shoe and thereby prevent entrance of substances, such as mud or snow. The stiffness or rigidity may be increased by integrally forming a rigid metal bracket 29 therewith. The bracket 29 is of a general U-shape having a web portion extending transversely through the heel portion 11 and a pair of upwardly projecting legs. The web portion is molded in the heel portion below the recess 28 to avoid interference with the leg 25 of the lever. Each of the legs is curved in conformity with the wall 12 and terminates a slight distance below the upper edge 14.

A modified form of the lever means is illustrated in FIGURES 5-8. The modified lever comprises a rigid bracket 30 which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends for swinging movement in a vertical plane aligned with the longitudinal center line of the overshoe. The

bracket 3i) is thus divided into two legs with a long leg 31 molded in the rib structure 17a of the overshoe and a relatively short leg 32 projecting inwardly of the wall 12a. A rigid support member 33 molded in the heel portion 11a and adjacent portion of the wall 12a underlying the heel section 15a provides a relatively xed pivot point P for the bar 30. Preferably, the support member 33 is generally L-shaped having a long leg disposed horizontally in the heel portion 11a and a relatively short leg 34 projecting upwardly through the rib structure 17a of the wall 12a. Formed in the upper end of the short leg 34 is a hinge pin bracket 35 which is connected to an intertting hinge pin bracket 36 formed in the bracket 30. A hinge pin 37 extends through the brackets. As best shown in FIGURE 7, the short leg 32 of the lever bracket is offset from the leg 31 and arranged to project downwardly from the hinge structure along the inner surface of the wall 12a. Although the legs 31 and 32 may be transversely curved to conform with the curvature of the rib 17a and the wall 12a, respectively, the hinge structure including the intermeshed brackets and 36 and the hinge pin 37 must be straight to permit pivotal swinging movement of the heel section 15a (see FIGURE 8).

Operation of an overshoe constructed with the modified lever means is similar to that previously described for the L-shaped lever. The overshoe is constructed with the rib 17a molded as indicated in FIGURE 6, providing the necessary bias to maintain the heel section 15a in a normally open position. In this position the short leg 32 of the lever bracket 30 will be disposed at an angle relative to the surface of the wall 12a and be inclined downwardly from the hinge structure. Inserting a shoe A therein will bring the vertical wall of the heel B in contacting engagement with the surface of the leg 32 thereby forcing the heel section 15a to pivot inwardly. When fully inserted in the overshoe with the shoe heel B in contacting engagement with the heel portion 11a, the shoe heel B will maintain the leg 32 of the lever adjacent the wall 12a, as shown in FIGURE 5. The upper portions of the heel section 15a will then be maintained in contacting engagement with the counter of the shoe A. Removal of the overshoe is similar to the removal operation previously described in conjunction with the L-shaped lever bracket.

When the overshoe is Worn, the hinged heel section may not form a satisfactory seal with the wall to prevent entrance of moisture. Should moisture protection relative to the upper portions of the wall become a factor of importance, the overshoe construction may be modified as illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 to include a flexible web 33 disposed in the slot between the adjacent edges of the wall section 18h of the heel section 15b and the notch in the wall 12b. Although the modified lever and hinge structure is illustrated, it is to be understood that either lever and hinge structure may be utilized in the construction of an overshoe with a flexible web 38. Preferably, the heel section 15b is formed with a gradually curved edge 39 which slopes forwardly and upwardly from the hinge structure to the upper edge 16h thereof. The notch in the Wall is formed with a similarly curved edge 40. A flexible web 3S, which may be fabricated from any suitable iiexible material such as thin sheets of gum rubber, is bonded to the edges 39 and 40 of the heel section and wall at each side of the rib 17h by a suitable vulcanizing process. To prevent an unsightly appearance when the heel section 15b is in a substantially closed position, the web 3S is preferably formed with several folds, as best shown in FIGURE l0, with each fold having a width not greater than the thickness of the Wall 12b and heel section 15b. By utilizing a web 38 having an unfolded Width at least equal to the Width of the slot formed by the edges 39 and 40 of the heel section and wall when the heel section 15b is in the normally open position, there will be very little force required to overcome the elasticity of the material and the rib 17b will continue to bias the heel section to the open position.

It is readily apparent that the overshoe of this invention having a novel hinged heel section greatly facilitates the utilization thereof. By providing a hinged section which is normally biased to an open position, the opening through which a shoe must be inserted is suciently enlarged to eliminate any stretching of the wall. Thus, the wearer does not reach down to grasp the overshoe wall, but merely steps into the overshoe. When the heel of the shoe reaches the surface of the heel portion of the sole, the heel section will be pivoted to the closed position by the lever means to provide the necessary clamping force for maintaining the overshoe in the proper position.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiments. However, it is to be understood that, Within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. An overshoe comprising a sole including a heel portion, an upwardly projecting Wall member fabricated from an elastic material integrally formed with said sole and extending substantially around the periphery of said sole, a heel section forming a part of said wall adjacent the heel portion of said sole and hinged to said wall member for piovtal swinging movement about a horizontally disposed axis extending transversely to the overshoe, said heel section being movable from a normally open position in relatively spaced relationship to said wall member defining in cooperation with said wall member an opening having a predetermined periphery for passage of a shoe therethrough and a substantially closed position defining in cooperation with said wall member an opening having a relatively reduced periphery preventing passage of a shoe therethrough, and lever means carried by said heel section for cooperatively engaging the heel of a shoe inserted in the overshoe to maintain said heel section in said closed position.

2. An overshoe according to claim l wherein said lever means includes a rigid bracket having a first leg molded in said heel section and a second leg projecting inwardly of said wall member for engaging the heel of a shoe.

3. An overshoe according to claim 2 wherein said bracket is of L-shape with said second leg disposed substantially perpendicular to said first leg and arranged to lie in juxtaposition to an upper surface of the heel portion of said sole when said heel section is in a closed position and the elastic material of said wall member forms a hinge structure biasing said heel section toward said open position.

4. An overshoe according to claim 3 wherein said lever is hinged about a horizontal axis spaced a distance above the upper surface of said sole heel portion with said second leg being formed With a main body portion and an L-shaped portion at the end thereof adjacent said hinge axis, said L-shaped portion including a first member disposed perpendicular to said main body portion and projecting upwardly therefrom for engaging a vertical side of a shoe heel and a second member connecting said rst member to said second leg at said hinge axis.

5. An overshoe according to claim 3 wherein said heel section includes a marginal edge portion extending laterally and upwardly from said hinge structure at each side of said bracket and said wall member is formed with a notch having marginal edge portions for cooperatively receiving said heel section.

6. An overshoe according to claim 2 wherein said bracket is supported for pivotal swinging movement about a hinge having an axis disposed intermediate the ends thereof With said second leg arranged to engage a vertical portion of `the shoe heel.

7. An overshoe according to claim 6 wherein said bracket is pivotally mounted on a rigid support member by a hinge structure molded in the heel portion of said sole, said member being formed with a laterally extending leg projecting upwardly from said sole through said Wall member, and a hinge structure including a hinge pin bracket carried at the upper extremity of said support member leg, an interttting, cooperatively formed hinge pin bracket formed with said bracket, a hinge pin extending through said hinge pin bracket, and the flexible material of said Wall member is prernolded at the hinge axis to bias said heel section toward said open position.

8. An overshoe according to claim 6 wherein said heel section includes a marginal edge portion curved upwardly References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,029,772 Steuart June 18, 1912 2,188,603 Hamalainen Jan. 30, 1940 2,452,502 Tarbox Oct. 26, 1948 2,452,649 Graves Nov. 2, 1948 2,666,996 Odland Jan. 26, 1954 2,815,588 Ruane Dec. 10, 1957 2,920,402 Minera Jan. 12, 1960 

1. AN OVERSHOE COMPRISING A SOLE INCLUDING A HEEL PORTION, AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING WALL MEMBER FABRICATED FROM AN ELASTIC MATERIAL INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID SOLE AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SOLE, A HEEL SECTION FORMING A PART OF SAID WALL ADJACENT THE HEEL PORTION OF SAID SOLE AND HINGED TO SAID WALL MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO THE OVERSHOE, SAID HEEL SECTION BEING MOVABLE FROM A NORMALLY OPEN POSITION IN RELATIVELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID WALL MEMBER DEFINING IN COOPERATION WITH SAID WALL MEMBER AN OPENING HAVING A PREDETERMINED PERIPHERY FOR PASSAGE OF A SHOE THERETHROUGH AND A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED POSITION DEFINING IN COOPERATION WITH SAID WALL MEMBER AN OPENING HAVING A RELATIVELY REDUCED PERIPHERY PREVENTING PASSAGE OF A SHOE THERETHROUGH, AND LEVER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HEEL SECTION FOR COOPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE HEEL OF A SHOE INSERTED IN THE OVERSHOE TO MAINTAIN SAID HEEL SECTION IN SAID CLOSED POSITION. 